As Good as Gold : A play 
in One Act: by Laurence 
Housman 




Samuel French: Publisher 

28 -30 West Thirty-eighth Street : New Yorlc 

LONDON 

Samuel French, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Stkekt, Strand 

PBICE TWENTY -FIVE CENTS 



As Good as Gold : A play 
in One Act: by Laurence 
Housman 



Samuel French: Publisher 

28 -30 West Thirty-eighth Street : New York 

LONDON 

Samuel French, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street, Sthand 






COPTKIGHT, 1910, 

Br LAURENCE HOUSMAN 



CAUTION. — Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned 
that " AS GOOD AS GOLD," being fully protected under 
the copyright laws of the L^nited States, is subject to 
royalty, and any one presenting the play without the 
consent of the author or his authorized agent, Avill be 
liable to the penalties by law provided. Application for 
the right to produce " AS GOOD AS GOLD " must be 
made to Samuel French, 28-30 West 38th Street, New 
York City. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERYED. 



OCT -9 1916 

D 45077 



n-Lry I 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 



DRA^IATIS PERSONAE. 

St. Francis of Assisi 
Brother Juniper 
A Goat-Boy 
First Robber 
Second Robber 
Third Robber 
An old miser 



AS GOOD AS GOLD 



Scene : — The scene opens on the side of a hill, in a 
space of cross-roads, surrounded by trees. It is 
deep dusk, almost dark, but light is beginning. 
One bird pipes, then another; as daylight in- 
creases, other birds join in, till the air is loud 
ivith them. Presently against the trees by the 
roadside^ one sees the figure of St. Francis, 
hooded, with hands folded in his sleeves, and 
his head raised in ecstacy. 

Francis. Welcome, Sister Dawn! {The sun 
rises) Welcome, Brother Sun ! 

{Up the hill comes Brother Juniper, grunting and 
out of breath, carrying a large basket of bread 
upon his back.) 

Juniper. Oh, Lord, my poor back ! — Oh, Lord, 
what big brother bellies to feed we all do have, to be 
sure! Oh, Lord, v/hat a — {He sees St. Francis, 
and pulls up zvith a jerk. From the monastery above 
comes the sound of the first Angelus. Juniper sets 
dozen liis load, crosses himself and kneels) Ave 
Maria, gratiae plena, Dominus tecum. Father 
Francis — Father Francis — that was the Angelus ! — 
What? and didn't you hear? — Benedicta tu in 
mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. 
I'm saying it for both of us, Father — Sancta Maria, 
mater dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in 
bora mortis nostris. The Lord love you. Father, 
have you had a stroke? Or is it Lot's wife you're 



6 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

thinking yourself to be ? Or is it our blessed Lord, 
and Our Lady, and all the rest of 'em ye're 
seeing up there so plain ? — Father Francis, speak to 
me, for the love of God ! Oh, Lord, the holy 
horrors, he's got 'em again. Here's bread, Father 
Francis, fresh from the oven, just baked : fresh and 
warm, like our Lord himself v/hen He rose the third 
day ! — Bread for our poor sinful bodies. Father ; for 
it stands to reason we must feed them, sometimes, 
when the Devil's not looking, doesn't it. Father? — 
There he stands and knows all about it, and 
won't say anything ! What if I was to have 'em 
too ? Oh, Lord, don't let them catch me this time — 
not yet ! 

(A Goat-Boy has come on the scene, and stands 
looking on, rather dazed and puzzled. At sight 
of him, Brother Juniper's tone changes.) 

Well? Who are you? What are you doing there, 
with those eyes? Eh? 

Boy. Holy Father! What's yon man a-doing? 
What f or's he standing and staring like that ? 

Juniper. He's having a vision : that's all. What 
business is it of yours? 

Boy. What's he having a vision for? 

Juniper. Can't help himself. It's the way the 
spirit takes him ; that — and hunger, and no sleep. 
I've had 'em myself sometimes. Here, whipper- 
snapper, be off ! 

Boy. What's it about? What's he seeing now? 
Oh, Father, look at his eyes ! 

Juniper. He's seeing Heaven, of course — 
Heaven : place where you and I shan't be, not for 
thousands of years ; and better not be too sure even 
then. You've to have all the flesh burnt off your 
bones, my son — all your evil lusts and passions 
pinched out of ye by Devils, before you'll ever be 
where he is now, praise be to God ! 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 7 

Boy. What for's all that gold lying at his feet, 
Father ? 

Juniper. Gold ! What are you talking about, 
boy? Gold? {He goes and looks) Oh, Lord, 
keep safe my sinful eyes! Why, what's this? 
Shut your eyes, boy, shut your eyes ! This isn't for 
you to see ! — Father, Father Francis, did you know 
that you've got gold here, under your feet ? — Father, 
did you know? — Oh, Father, it's not reasonable of 
ye not to answer a question like that? Holy Alary, 
there's enough gold here to make a man miserable 
for life, and still ye don't answer how ye've come by 
it ! Did the Devil send it to tempt you, Father ? Or 
was it our Lady wanting you to build her a fine new 
Church ? 

Boy. He's coming to his senses, Father ! I saw 
one of his eyes give a wink. 

Juniper. Take care, then, to be gone first, else 
I shouldn't wonder but he may eat you ! 

Boy. Oh! 

(St. Francis begins to drazv his hands out of his 
sleeves. TJie Boy turns and runs.) 

Juniper. Aye, that's right ! He's off ! (He 
begins to gather up tJie gold) Father, what will I 
do with it ? Will I dig a hole in the ground and bury 
it till the day of joyful resurrection? — Or will I 
put it into the basket along with the bread? — Or 
will I give it to the birds ? — Or — here's the bag 
that it came in — shall I put it into that? (St. 
Francis bends his head and, looking dozvn, sees the 
basket of bread) Yes, Father, it's me that's talking 
to you — Brother Juniper. Fve been dov/n to the 
bake-house to fetch bread. 

Francis. This was the Bread of Life which came 
down from Heaven ! Welcome, Brother Bread ! 

Juniper. No, Father, this came up from the bake- 
house, Fm telling you. 



8 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Francis. You there, Brother Juniper? — Give 
me a mouthful of Brother Bread. 

Juniper. Oh, Father, why do you always make 
us feel it's like murder to eat anything ? And there, 
look how he has burnt himself ! {Laughs to him- 
self, and cuts bread) Have a big piece, Father! 
(Francis breaks off a small piece, and gives Juniper 
the rest) And Father, where did you get all that 
gold? 

Francis. Brother Juniper, hark to that bird! 

Juniper. Yes, Father, he's a wonderful bird — 
for his size. I've noticed him, too : got a voice like 
a cricket. Dear Father, where did all that gold come 
from ? — There now, and you're sitting on it ! 

Francis. Ah, yes — ^yes, I remember. It was 
here. 

Juniper, Yes, Father, I thought, maybe, you'd 
remember it was here. 

Francis. Last night I stood under that tree — 
Sister Owl sat upon a branch. Her voice was soft, 
praising God. 

Juniper. Aye, Father, Did you see her catch a 
mouse ? 

Francis. And as she sat, three white feathers fell 
out of her breast. 

Juniper. Holy Trinity, you don't say ! Oh, here 
is the story I'm going to like ! 

Francis.^ Then she went, and Sister Night was 
left alone. 

Juniper. Yes, but the gold — what about the gold, 
Father? 

Francis. The gold? That is what I'm telling 
you, my son. About midnight the moon set, and 
there came rain. And under the darkness the leaves 
dripped, and the earth drank, and a sweet savour 
came up from the ground — and all the world was 
asleep. 

Juniper. And did the gold walk in its sleep, 
Father? 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 9 

Francis. Sister sleep is gentle, but she is strong. 
Her wings are silent as the white owl's, but her voice 
more soft. 

Juniper. But look, Father — the gold ! 

{He holds up a coin, zvhich St. Francis takes.) 

Francis. Now, mark, Brother, how poverty af- 
flicts poor men ! Night shed benediction from on 
high, slumber filled all the air. Back into the sky 
had come the stars. Overhead went the soft drip 
of leaves 

Juniper. Oh, Father, what have the stars and 
leaves got to do with it? 

Francis. Then came three mortal men. Here 
at my feet they sat down, and in the darkness began 
to count their gold. First one way, then another, 
they counted it, and never would it come right. So, 
snatching it from hand to hand, they fell to strife 
and their voices grew loud. No longer could I hear 
the soft breath of night, nor the dripping of the 
leaves, though the drops still fell on my face. 

Juniper. Oh, Father, were you not afraid? 
Had they found you, they would have killed you. 

Francis. ' And as they wasted themselves in 
wrath, my heart was moved to pity them ; and I 
said 

Juniper. Said? Oh, Lord! were you mad, 
Father? What was it possessed you to say any- 
thing ? 

Francis. I said, " Not so loud, Brothers, not so 
loud ! Sister Night is asleep." 

Juniper. Lord help us. Father, you said that? 
Wliat then ? 

Francis. Ere I had done speaking, they were 
gone ; and Sister Night had her rest. 

Juniper. Oh ! but. Father, suppose they were to 
come back for it? 



10 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Francis. Perhaps they will, Brother; for men 
are often foolish, not knowing when they have be- 
come rich. 

Juniper. Gold is a great catch. Father. One 
time I, too, did like to look on it. 

Francis. You did well. Brother, for God gave 
her a goodly countenance. See how with her face 
she loves the sun ! {He holds a gold-piece to the 
light) Gold is beautiful, Juniper; and when God 
made gold he loved her and saw that she was good. 
Then came man and spoiled her of her beauty. We 
must be sorry for Sister Gold, Brother, and pity 
when we see her in the dust. 

Juniper. Oh, look ! Father, look ! There under 
the wood are three men, with eyes, watching us ! 
They are coming back, Father, they are coming 
back! Oh, Father Francis, Father Francis, don't 
let them kill me ! Oh, hide me, hide me safe, some- 
where! (St. Francis continues to eat his bread, 
while Juniper hides behind the bread-basket) 

Wli: {Enter the Three Robbers) 

1ST Robber. Morning, your Reverence! 

Francis. God bless you, Brother. 

2ND Robber. Good-morning, your worship ! 

Francis. God be with you, fair friend. 

3RD Robber. Master, you must go hence ; for this 
pitch is ours. 

Francis. Give me leave, friend, to stay awhile. 
For here I am guarding the poverty of three honest 
men, whose faces I do not know. 

1ST. Robber. Sir, say you so ? Why, 'tis poverty 
that brings us here now. 

3RD Robber. I would have you know, Master, 
there was gold here which was ours. {After looking 
round for awhile, threateningly) 

2ND Robber. And we be now come seeking it. 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. ii 

Francis, Alas, Brothers, have you come back 
to be made poor ? 

1ST Robber With that gold we shall be rich. 

Francis. Last night ye were not so. For then, 
brothers, ye lost peace, and friendship, and under- 
standing. Also did ye not lose heart ? 

3RD Robber. How so. Master? 

Francis. Yea, for ye lost courage, and ran like 
sheep, and had no friend left you but fear ! See, 
then, brothers, to what poverty gold brought you ! 

2ND Robber. Sir, we ran because it was dark 
night, and because an angel spoke. But we have 
not to fear angels by day. 

Francis. Alas, friend, then how much more 
poverty is now yours ! For if ye fear not angels, 
ye fear not God ! And if ye fear not God, then ye 
must needs fear the Devil, which is the foulest 
fear any man can have ! 

3RD Robber. I fear neither Devil nor man ! 

Francis. Brother, neither do I ! — But very 
greatly do I fear God. 

1ST Robber. I doubt not, sir, we shall all fear 
God when we come to die. 

Francis. As when you come to a ditch, fearing 
that you cannot leap it. Think you, friend, that 
you could leap over that tree? 

1ST Robber. No, sir. 

Francis. God is much taller than that tree, 
brother. With His little finger he covereth the whole 
world, and touching, He maketh the smallest thing 
to seem great. Lo, last night, you heard only a 
poor worm speak, and thought it was an angel, and 
ran away ! 

3RD Robber. A worm, sir? 

Francis. I was that worm. 

3RD Robber. Then Fd have you tell us, what 
have you done with ovir gold ? 

Francis. I am sitting on it. The v-/orm has but 
to turn. {He gets up) Friend, there is your gold ! 



12 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Oh, come, brothers, and look on Poverty ; for this 
is she ! 

2ND Robber. What does he mean — Poverty? 
(Aside) 

1ST Robber. Has he put a curse on it, think you? 

3RD Robber. If he has, he shall take it off again ! 
But when I get my hands full of gold, I snap fingers 
at poverty. 

Francis. Even as one that beats his own wife, 
both having and despising her. 

3RD Robber. Here! Give over, I say! 

Francis. Well, Brothers, since the Devil hath 
robbed you of all wealth, make good use of the 
poverty that he hath left. Fare you well. Brothers. 

(iST and 2ND Robbers zvatching St. Francis about 
to depart, make signs to one another.) 

2ND Robber. Stay, Master ! 

Francis. Well, friend? — What is your will? 

2ND Robber. Look you. Master: there be the 
gold, and here be we three men, and I the littlest of 
them. Leave it to them — what chance of my share 
have I? 

1ST Robber, You'll get your share, don't fear. 

3RD Robber. As much as you are worth, and no 
more! 

3RD Robber. No, I won't! And wasn't getting 
it last night, either ! 

3RD Robber. Ye parrot-hatch, hold your tongue ! 

2ND Robber. Share and share alike, it was to 
be! 

3RD Robber. And will be ! 

2ND Robber. Then you stop and see it done. Mas- 
ter ! Stop and see it done ! — Yes, he may be a fool, 
but he's honest. So I say, let him judge, and give 
each man his portion. Fair, that's what I say, fair ! 

3RD Robber. You'll be fair dead, when I've done 
with you ! 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 13 

1ST Robber. {Nudging 3RD Robber) It's all 
right ; let him do it ! There, sit down, Father. You 
divide it for us. 

Juniper. Don't touch it. Father, don't touch it. 
It's come of evil ! 

Francis. Sit down, Brothers. Juniper, bring me 
the gold. 

Juniper. Father, I think I'll get the yellow fever. 
Praise be to God ! (Juniper, piling it on the bag 
that it came from, brings the gold to St. Francis) 

Francis. Are you not hungry, brothers? 

Robbers. Flungry? We are hungry as ogres. 
Master, ive are ! 

Francis. Bring hither the basket — Come forth, 
Brother Bread! — Look, is he not fair? Brother 
Bread, see you these three hungry men? They 
wish to be at one with you. Shall it be? — 
And lo, after his manner, Brother Bread speaketh, 
and like our Blessed Lord, he divideth himself 
among all. giving alike to each. {He distributes the 
bread) Let us thank God, brothers, that he hath 
sent bread into the world, to die that we may live. 

(iST and 2ND Robbers make the sign of the cross) 

Juniper. {To 3RD Robber) Cannot you cross 
yourself ? 

3RD Robber. Who the Devil are you ? 

Juniper. Ah ! (Juniper gets behind bread-bas- 
ket, and with that behind St. Francis also) 

Francis. Now for this bread, brothers, if you 
had it not, and so were near to death, would you not 
give all the gold in the world ? 

1ST Robber. Aye, that we would. Master! 

Francis. See, then, how much more precious to 
you is bread than gold — For no man can die for lack 
of gold. {He spreads out the money) How came 
you, brothers, by all this Poverty ? Was it some man 
that did rob you ? 



14 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

3RD Robber. Roh us? Rob us? No, we weren't 
robbed, Master. 

1ST Robber. Nor, to speak truly, did we rob any 
man. 

3RD Robber. No. 

2ND Robber. This gold. Master, we found. 

1ST Robber. Aye, buried in the earth by one 
that had no use for it. 

3RD Robber. Therefore was it not ours? 

Francis. If Sister Earth gave it to you. 

3RD Robber. Ah, He didn't have any say! 

2ND Robber. Other did, though. 

Francis. What other? 

2ND Robber. Why, He that first put it there! 
Ah ! when he came back there was trouble then ! 

1ST Robber. He was an old miser. Father. Gold 
was no good to him, he never spent any. 

2ND Robber. And for him to keep putting it in 
the ground, why, that was a sin against common- 
sense, that was. 

3RD Robber. Well, Master, let us get on to busi- 
ness. 

1ST Robber. Ah, that's right: divide! 

2ND Robber. Share and share alike ! 

Francis. I will divide it, then, into four por- 
tions. 

Robbers. Four ! 

3RD Robber. Oh, he wants a share for himself, 
does he? 

1ST Robber. He means we're to pay for the 
bread ! 

Francis. No: Brother Bread gave himself; he 
does not seek payment. 

3RD Robber. Then, why four? 

Francis. Will you not give her share to Sister 
Earth? (They all stare non-plussed) You thought 
the old man foolish ; but he was wise. It is right to 
bury the dead. 

1ST Robber. He isn't dead. Master. 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 15 

3RD RoBHER. I gave him but a knock or two, to 
make him he quiet. And look you, IMaster, he talks 
of share and share. {Pointing to 2nd Robber) But 
I say, how much was he worth? If one digs while 
another only looks on, how then? And if one does 
all the fighting and another only looks on, how 
then? Is he to have the same share as me? — Not 
likely ! 

2ND Robber. Hadn't someone to watch while you 
dug? Hadn't someone to stop a man's mouth when 
he cried * Murder ! ' — Did you get your blamed fin- 
ger bitten like me ? No fear ! 

{The two Robbers face each other with threaten- 
ing gestures) 

Francis. Oh, Brothers, why have you let all this 
poverty come on you? See, now, how you two 
have lost friendship that were friends before ! Ye 
have shared bread and are satisfied ; but in no shar- 
ing of this gold will ye be satisfied, for never can 
ye have so much of it, but ye will want more. Oh, 
brothers, let us have pity on Sister Gold ! 

1ST Robber. How take pity, Master? 

Francis. To remedy the sad plight wherein now 
she finds herself. 

3RD Robber. Good Lord, here's a lunatic for you ! 
Why, what's wrong with her ! 

Francis. Is she not naked, and cold, and in cap- 
tivity ? 

2ND Robber. In captivity. Master ? 

Francis. Surely, even as a fish, when you take 
it from the water which is its home ! Sister Gold 
loves to be underground. She likes quiet, and dark- 
ness, and rest, with a good weight of earth over her 
for a covering. And of all that, man has deprived 
her. He has divided her from her friends, he has 
made a round thing of her, to toss, and to spin, and 
to dance ; and to go junketing with him from place to 



i6 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

place, and to buy things that she has no use for, and 
to be thrown away in lewd living, and to be fought 
for, and to have men's blood spilled over her fair 
body. Are you not sorry for Sister Gold ? 

2ND Robber. Master, you do make I to weep ! 
Never did I know what a melancholy creature gold 
was till now. 

Francis. Weep no more, Friend, since now you 
can make her happy again. 

1ST Robber. How can the likes of we make her 
happy. Master? 

Francis. First you can cover her nakedness. 

2ND Robber. Ah? Can we, though? How? 

Francis. Put her back into Mother Pouch. 

3RD. Robber. Mother Pouch? Who's she? 

Francis. {As he displays it) I do not know 
any other name for her ; but she has a large mouth, 
and long ears, and she is patient. 

3RD Robber. {Laughing) Father, you be the 
biggest Tom Fool I ever met ! Don't he make a chap 
laugh? I haven't laughed like that since my old 
mother died. 

Francis. You did well to be joyful then, friend 
— Your mother went to God, did she not ? 

3RD Robber. So I trust, Father ! 

Francis. But for that journey she took no gold 
with her ? 

3RD Robber. Nay, Master, she did not. 

1ST Robber. He got the old girl's stocking right 
enough. Master. 

Francis. Yet she, without gold, made a better 
journey than you with gold, and came at last to a 
better inn. 

3RD Robber. Maybe she did, Master, 

Francis. And for that end you buried her? 

2ND Robber. Aye. 

Francis. So now, if you bring Sister Gold, she 
likewise will find her way to God, doubt not. 

3RD Robber. You think, Master? 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 17 

Francis. For the City of God is made of pure 
gold very precious, and it is still abuilding. And the 
gold which you give back to Him on earth shall be 
to the making of those bright walls ; and hereafter 
shall be part of that gateway by which you go in. 

Juniper. Oh, Father, if ye talk like that, I'll be 
getting a vision, Father ! Poor sinner that I am ! 

Francis. Then, when you see her, you will say, 
" Hello, Sister Gold ! How did you come here ? " 
And she will answer : " Brother Robber, it was you 
that sent me hither." 

3RD Robber. Robber, you say ? Oh, but you can't 
prove it on me ! You can't prove it ! 

Francis. No, friend: neither can Sister Gold. 
So then you will say to her : " Sister Gold, zvhom 
have I robbed ? " And if you have robbed no man 
she will be dumb. So you will say further : " There 
was a poor old miser burying gold in a lonely field ; 
and all his spirit was bowed and broken with the 
care of it. And even as he dug he did sweat, and 
started and trembled, looking to right and to left and 
behind him, so much was he afraid." 

1ST Robber. Father! How did you know that? 

Francis. Sister Gold has told me, also Mother 
Pouch. At night when he slept. Mother Pouch lay 
under his head, and he had gray hair. ( St. Francis 
begins to put the gold hack into the pouch) 

3RD Robber. Oh, my God ! you do frighten me ! 

Francis. And so to rid him of his fear : first you 

Francis. And so to rid him of his fear, first you 
Sister Gold. 

Robbers. {Sharing the confession between 
them) Yes, Father! That's true. Father! We 
didn't find it, we took it. Father ! Oh, what a holy 
terror he be for discovering of our sins ! 

Juniper. Aye ! 

Francis. And so you left him thinking of noth- 



i8 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

ing but his head, which was far more precious to 
him than gold. 

3RD. Robber. Father! Shall I be hanged for it? 

Francis. No, friend. But having wrought in 
him a good work, you should not seek to be paid for 
it. 

3RD Robber. I don't, Father, I don't! I only 
ask to be let off, for this one time, Father ! 

(The Robbers all kneel at the feet of St. Francis. 
He rises.) 

Francis. Oh, Brothers, look at the sun, for there- 
in is life! This is the living gold which cometh 
down from heaven to give light to all. And lo, 
wherever it falleth upon earth, it worketh good; it 
lifteth up, and giveth strength, and maketh rich! 
Lo, upon thy face, also, brother, lieth this gift, mak- 
ing thee comely to look upon ! And since Brother 
Sun hath made thee fair of face, shall not thy soul 
also shine fair to the eyes of God ? 

Juniper. I'm going to see visions, Father ! I'm 
not myself! 

2ND Robber. And you'll not hang us, Father? 

Juniper. Hang you? What for should he be 
hanging the like of you, wasting good rope ? 

Robbers. Oh, we be sinners. Father, we be sin- 
ners ! We are very much afraid. 

Francis. Do not be. Here is Sister Gold. {He 
puts the bag of gold into ist Robber's hands) 

1ST Robber. But what shall we do with it. 
Father? — Nay, take it back. Father. For truly this 
is not ours. 

Francis. I doubt not, if ye give Sister Gold 
Christian burial, that she will pray for you. 

2ND Robber. We bury her. Father? 

Francis. Aye, see ! Here is good ground where 
she may rest in peace. 

1ST Robber. You mean — put her away, Father? 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 19 

Francis. Give her back to God, brother. 

3RD Robber. I think we be all fools. Father. But 
if you say so, it must be right. 

Francis. If our folly makes us wise, brother! 
Which of you, now, will dig her grave ? 

1ST Robber. FU do it. Father. 

2ND Robber. And I. 

3RD Robber. Keep oflf! You leave it to me! 
{He starts digging) 

2ND Robber. Don't you want help, brother? 

3RD Robber. You can look on 1 

(iST and 2ND Robber help to shovel out the earth 
with their hands,) 

Francis. And to do this thing, not one of you 
is afraid?? 

1ST Robber. No, Father! What for should we 
be afraid ? 

Francis. When ye first went seeking it, ye kept 
watch, fearing every man ! 

2ND Robber. Aye, that is true, Father. 

Juniper. Oh, Father, Fm having visions. Father ! 
I can see our Lord riding into holy Jerusalem sitting 
on a milk-white ass, and three big blind donkeys fol- 
lowing Him, and me at the tail end of 'em; and 
never the stroke of a stick wanted to tell 'em where 
they are to go! Oh, it's a fair vision Fm having, 
Father, and I see it all! 

Francis. Have your vision. Brother. Yet shall 
you see it better, if you talk less of it. 

3RD Robber. Will that do, Father? 

Francis. Yea, truly! See how willing was 
Sister Earth to make room in her breast ! Come, 
brothers, there is Sister Gold. She is in your hands, 
brothers. {The Robbers with contrite humility lay 
the bag of gold in the ground) Now doth she enter 
into rest. Now is she at peace. Now is her face set 
toward the City of God. Doubt not, though ye give 



20 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

this poor mortal body to ground that ye shall see it 
hereafter arise in glory. {The Robbers rise from 
their task) So now, Brothers, thank God that He 
hath made you rich. 

1ST Robber. This be a great wonder, Father! 

Juniper. Aye, so! And all the Brothers up 
there waiting breakfast, and wondering what has 
become of it. Shall I go. Father? 

Francis. Tarry awhile, Brother, for here comes 
more Hunger. 

{Enter old Miser, very feeble and tottering, with 
bandaged head.) 

Miser. Oh, Father Friar, help, help! Save 
me, father! 

Francis. Art thou in fear, brother? 

Miser. Aye! — Yes, I — I be mortally afraid. 

Francis. Wherefore ? Art thou in sin ? 

Miser. In sin? Nay, most foully have I been 
sinned against. Oh, the things that I have suffered 
this night ! — My gold, my gold, all my gold is gone ! 

Francis. And thy wits also, brother ! 

Miser. 'Twere no great wonder ; my skull being 
so drained of blood! — Ten thieves set upon me. 
Father; they beat me till I was black and blue. 
They knocked out my senses. Then they took all 
my gold. Oh, my gold ! 

Francis. But they left thee thy life, Brother. 

Miser. What use is life. Father, when one has 
lost all! 

Francis. Friend, I am sorry for thee. {To 
the Robbers) We are all sorry, are we not? 

1ST Robber. We are, indeed. Father! 

2ND Robber. Sorry isn't the word, Father. 

3RD Robber. My heart bleeds for him ! 

{With these compunctious but face-saving remarks, 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 21 

the Robbers do their best to meet an awkzuard 
situation.) 

Juniper. Ah, you're a sad sight ! And here's a 
bit of bread for you. {The old man takes it me- 
chanically, but his attention is elsezvhere. Juniper 
approaches the embarrassed Robbers) And here's 
more bread for you three donkeys, for ye look 
hungry again! — (Aside) You'd better be ofif! 

(Bt{t the Robbers, awkzvard squad though they be, 
are ready to face fire; and zvill take their march- 
ing orders only zvhen St. Francis gives the 
zvord. ) 
Miser. Who be these? 

{The Robbers break bread and pause, each zvith 
a mouthful in hand.) 
Francis. Grave-diggers. 

Miser. Why, then, they should be honest men. 
Francis. Do they not look honest? 

{The Robbers precipitately fill their mouths zvith 
bread, the munching of zvhich helps them to 
look innocent.) 

Miser. I say nothing against it, Father, they 
being with you. But oh, the thieves, the thick 
thieves there be in the world! And all my gold 
gone! 

Juniper. Ten thieves, did you say? 

Miser. Aye; they had the weight of ten when 
they all fell on me. But there in the dark, less 
or more, how could one tell? 

Francis. Would you know them again, Brother ? 

( The Robbers again pause zvith mouthfuls of bread 
in their hands.) 



22 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Miser. (Venge fully) Aye! God helping me, 
I would! t bit the finger of one: him I would 
know ! (2ND Robber puts his hand behind his 
back) One I heard speak; his voice I should 
know ! ( The Robbers again fill their mouths with 
bread) And one I should know by his smell! 

(The Robbers^ with their chances of escape thus 
diminished, turn supplicating eyes to St. 
Francis.) 

Francis. Your head is bleeding, Brother. 

Miser. Aye, very like ! Though I have not much 
blood left. 

Francis. ( To 3RD Robber) Bind up his wound, 
brother — Be careful how you handle it ! 

(The 3RD Robber goes braced to his task. For 
lack of a bandage he pulls up the tail of his 
shirt and tears it off.) 

Miser. Ah, if I could but catch the man that 
did this! Oh, God, that I might find him! (He 
begins nervously to break and crumble the bread 
he has in his hand) 

Francis. You wish to pardon him. Brother? 

Miser. / pardon him? — I would put out his 
eyes ! I would flay the flesh off his bones ! I 
would hang him up by the heels till his head did rot 
off — Ah ! (For at that moment the bandaging 
causes him pain) 

3RD Robber. (Meekly) Your pardon, Brother. 

Francis. Would you do so to all ten? 

Miser. Aye, every mother's son of 'em ! 

Francis. Peradventure there were found, 
friend, three of the ten that had repented. Wouldst 
thou not have mercy upon three ? 

Miser. Why should I have mercy on them that 
took all my gold? Why should I 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 23 

{The 3RD Robber being short of bandage-material, 
and failing to make it enough, is looking about 
for more. The other tzvo Robbers pull up the 
tails of their shirts and offer what is requisite.) 

2ND Robber. Have a bit of bread, master, you'll 
feel better after it ? (Offers it) 

Miser. (Feebly) Shall I? — I don't know. I — 
Oh, how shall I live, having lost all my gold ! 

1ST Robber. Bread is worth more than gold. 
Master. 

Miser. What does that gabbling fool say? 

Francis. He speaks as he knows. Brother. 

1ST Robber. Aye, look you! for last night, 
gafifer, I had as much gold under my hand as ever 
you had. But I gave it all up — for a bit of bread. 

Miser. The more fool you ! 

Francis. It was living bread, brother. And 
having, that he shall not hunger again. Go in Peace, 
brothers : for now is our Sister at rest, since you 
have given her good burial. 

Robbers. God bless you. Father ! 

Francis. Brothers, God bless and keep you. 

3RD Robber. (To Juniper) God keep you, 
Master, from those ten robbers. 

(Exeunt the three Robbers.) 

Juniper. Oh, Father, they be three great don- 
keys. But our Lord hath put his mark upon their 
backs ! 

Miser. Burial, you say? Who have they been 
burying. Father? 

Francis. One that was dead, men having so 
mishandled her. And her name was Sister Gold. 

Miser. Gold? Gold? 

Francis. Even so, Brother. 

Miser. Whose gold? 



24 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Francis. God's, Brother. To whom else can 
gold belong? 

Miser. Where found they that gold, Father? 
Where found they that gold? 

Francis. In a field. Brother. There was an 
old man burying it, because he had no use for it, 
knowing that it was dead. Then came others who 
knew it not; so, thinking that she was alive, they 
took her from him that buried her, and brought 
her hither. But seeing her in the light of day they 
found that she was dead. 

Miser. What have they done with that gold, 
Father ? 

Francis. They have given her back to God, 
Brother. 

Miser. Ah! you mean that the Church has 
taken it! She had no right to it. That gold was 
mine ! Oh, you friars and priests, you are all 
thieves like the rest of them ! Give it back, give 
it back to me, I say! 

Francis. I have not taken your gold. Brother. 
Miser. Where is it, then? 

Francis. She is in peace, lying at rest in Mother 

Earth. Seek not to disturb her again. Brother. 

Did not you yourself put her there? 

(The Old Miser is up against a hard problem. St. 

Francis knows where the gold is, and may not 

choose to divulge its whereabouts. It comes 

then, to this: How is he to get such standing 

with the Friar, that the knowledge may become 

his? With mind busily catching at straws, he 

starts muttering to himself:) 

Miser. My gold! — Yes, yes, my gold — Yes, I 
did put it there; I — Yes, yes. I — Father — you say 
that it is safe — that gold, father? 

Francis. It is safe. Brother. 

Miser. Where does it lie. Father? 

Francis. In God's hands. Brother. 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 25 

Miser. Yes — but I — {He glances round suspi- 
ciously) 

Francis. Art thou still afraid, Brother? 

Miser. Of what, Father? 

Francis. Of robbers. 

Miser. Why should I fear robbers, now that 
they have taken all my gold ? 

Francis. Very true. Therefore thou art at 
peace. 

Miser. I ? 

Francis. And she that was thy sorrow, is at 
peace also. 

Miser. She ? 

Francis. The robbers had pity on Sister Gold 
— and wilt thou be less kind to her than they? 
Didst thou not love Sister Gold. 

Miser. Yes, Father, yes ! Show me where she 
lies now? 

Francisi. She Avas cold, and naked, and in 
bondage, and the lust of men's eyes had shamed 
her. So in the fear and love of God they buried 
her. And now she is at peace. 

Miser. Father, you must be a marvellous holy 
man to talk like that ! At peace, you say ? Well, 
I, — God forbid that I should seek to take away her 
peace ! — Let her rest, let her rest, as you say, 
Father! — Yet I would like to know. Father, where 
you have buried her, so that I may come now and 
then and say a prayer upon her grave — You 
wouldn't tell me, I suppose — you wouldn't tell me 
just where she 

Francis. She lies here. Brother ; under this tree. 

Juniper. Ah ! now you've done it. Father. 

Miser. Here ! 

Francis. Even so. Brother. 

Miser. What? All here? Oh, God! can it be 
true ? Yes ! for the ground's been dug. I — Well, 
well, Father, God give her peace! — And you, too, 



26 AS GOOD AS GOLD. 

Father, and you, Brother. Yes, let ner lie. Will 
you give your blessing. Father, to a poor man ? 

Francis. The Lord bless you and keep you, 
Brother. The Lord make his face to shine upon 
you, Brother. The Lord lift up the light of his coun- 
tenance upon you and give you peace. 

Juniper. Are you going to say " Amen ? " 

Miser. Aye! — Amen — (Pauses for a moment, 
then goes) 

Juniper. Father, did you believe that old man 
when he so readily foreswore his gold? 

Francis. No, Brother ; but he believes me. 

Juniper. That his gold is buried here? Why, 
so I think ! And as soon as your back is turned, 
Father ■ 



Francis. Yes, Brother. Hark, there is that 
bird again ! Is it not wonderful, Brother, how men 
love fear ; and rather than be without it, they will 
die? (St. Francis goes and stands under the tree) 
Oh, thou little brother, that brimmest with full 
heart, and having naught, possessest all, surely thou 
dost well to sing ! For thou hast life Avithout labour, 
and beauty without burden, and riches without 
care. When thou wakest, lo, it is dawn ; and when 
thou comest to sleep, it is eve. And when thy two 
wings lie folded about thy heart, lo, there is rest. 
Therefore sing, brother, having this great wealth, 
that when thou singest thou givest thy riches to all. 
Come, let us go, Brother Juniper. You lead the 
way. (Juniper shoulders his basket and mounts 
the path leading to the monastery) Farewell, little 
brother ! Flave no fear ! ( To the bird. St. Fran- 
cis makes the sign of the cross to the bird, and 
passes behind the tree and into the wood) 

(Re-enter the Old Miser; he is carrying a stake; 
he starts and trembles, looking from right 
to left. He comes to the spot zvhere the gold 
lies buried.) 



AS GOOD AS GOLD. 27 

Miser. Father Fool, Father Fool, did you think 
to keep my gold from me? (He starts digging) 
No, you don't — no, no, you don't ! You don't ! 
You don't! Ah, my gold, my beautiful gold, come 
to me! Where art thou? — (He reaches into the 
hole and drazvs out the bag of gold. St. Francis 
re-appears through the trees, and stands behind him) 
Ah, there thou art ! My sweet, my sweet ! Wel- 
come back to me again! (He hugs the gold to his 
breast) 

Francis. Welcome, Sister Fear ! 

Miser. Ah ! (Hiding the bag of gold under his 
coat, he starts back in an extremity of terror, and 
crouches trembling, expecting death. St. Francis 
stands perfectly still behind him. Slozvly he turns 
and looks) Father ! — Father — I didn't mean — to 
do it, Father — (St. Francis stands, not regarding 
him, saying nothing. Presently the Old Man puts 
the bag back into the hole, and begins to shovel in 
the earth zvith his hands. His breast is shaken with 
dry sobs. He works slozvly at first, then with more 
and more feverish haste till the task is done) 
Father, give me your blessing, for I have sinned ! 

Francis. The Lord bless you and keep you, 
Brother, The Lord make his face to shine upon 
you, Brother, The Lord lift up the light of his 
countenance upon you, and give you peace. (St. 
Francis makes the sign of the Cross, then turns 
and goes np the hill) 

{The Old Man totters to his feet, and the sun shines 
on his face. The look of fear goes out of his 
eyes. From the Monastery comes the sound 
of the second Angelus. The Old Man crosses 
himself three times, kneels dozvn and /rays. 
You hear the first zvords "Ave, Maria;" after 
that you only see the quick muttering of his lips. 
At " Sancta Maria" he becomes audible again, 
but the rest is silence. When his lips cease to 
move, the curtain falls.) 



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